Senior Counsel, Competition & M&A, 14 years
O'Sullivan & Co · Melbourne, VIC · 14 years experience
About
Transactional lawyer advising mid-market corporates and private capital on M&A, joint ventures, and ACCC notifications across consumer, industrial, and healthcare sectors. Fourteen years across top-tier firms with an in-house secondment at an ASX 200 acquirer. Recent matters include cross-border acquisitions into South East Asia, merger clearance for an agri-processing joint venture, and carve-out divestments for a listed industrials group. Admitted in Victoria and New South Wales; member of the Competition and Consumer Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.
Expertise
Sector Experience
Skills & Recognition
Software & Tools
Standards & Methodologies
Languages
Qualifications & Registrations
Academic Qualifications
Juris Doctor, Law
2011University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Commerce, Economics
2008Australian National University
Experience
Principal
2022–PresentO'Sullivan & Co
Independent boutique advising on transactional matters and regulatory clearance. Retained as panel counsel by two ASX 300 issuers.
Senior Associate, Corporate M&A
2014–2022Herbert Smith Freehills
Lead associate on eight public-company transactions totalling c. $4bn in consideration. Secondment to client CFO's office in 2020.
Projects / Case Studies
Standout projects from Catherine's career, with the challenge, approach, and outcome for each.
ACCC informal clearance for an agri-processing joint venture
2024ASX-listed industrial group · Financial Services
Lead counsel, competition clearanceOversight
Lead counsel on competition review for a c. $180m joint venture between two regional oilseed processors.
Challenge
Overlapping regional market shares risked a substantive-lessening-of-competition concern; timelines tight with a conditional deal.
Solution
Coordinated economic expert evidence on market definition and ran a three-round informal clearance dialogue with the ACCC, including targeted behavioural undertakings on grower contracting.
Outcome
Clearance granted within 14 weeks of initial notification. Transaction completed on original economic terms.
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